Connecting People With the Arts
2023-2024 Raleigh Arts Partners
The City of Raleigh Arts Commission nurtures creativity and enriches our community by championing the arts in Raleigh: • Partnering with local cultural organizations • Supporting arts programming • Advocating for arts investment • Presenting art exhibitions, public art and special events
Vinculando al Pueblo con las Artes La Comisión de Artes de la Ciudad de Raleigh sustenta la creatividad y enriquece a nuestra comunidad, favoreciendo las artes en Raleigh por medio de: • La asociación con organizaciones culturales locales • El apoyo de la programación de las artes • El fomento de la inversión en el arte • La presentación de exposiciones artísticas, arte público y eventos especiales
raleighnc.gov/arts 919-996-3610
• African American Cultural Festival • Animazement • Arts Access • Arts Together • Artspace • Artsplosure • Burning Coal Theatre Company • CAM Raleigh • Carolina Ballet • Chamber Music Raleigh • Community Music School • Cultural Voice of NC • Diamante Arts & Cultural Center • El Pueblo • The Justice Theater Project • National Women’s Theatre Festival • The NC Chamber Music Institute • NC Master Chorale • NC Museum of History • NC Opera • NC State LIVE • NC State University Theatre • NC Symphony • NC Theatre • North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre • Nuv Yug Cultural Organization • Performance Edge • PineCone • Pure Life Theatre Company • Raleigh Civic Symphony Association • Raleigh Little Theatre • The Raleigh Ringers • Raleigh Youth Choir • ShopSpace • Theatre in the Park • Theatre Raleigh • Triangle Youth Music • VAE Raleigh
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OUR MISSION To enhance the cultural life of North Carolina by presenting artistically significant opera productions of the highest quality, strengthening and expanding audiences for opera in the region, and providing regional artists opportunities to participate in operatic productions and events.
2023-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy Hablutzel, President James Hargrove, Vice-President John Lunsford, Treasurer Carl Nold, Secretary Joel Adams Amanda Bambrick Andrew Blass Yvonne Bryant Kelvin Currie Bryan Gilliam James Gulick
Douglas Holbrook Valerie Johnson C. Thomas Kunz Florence Peacock Ralph Roberson William Rustin Richard Sarles Cathy Stuart Shohreh Taavoni Brigette Wilds Jean Wozencraft-Ornellas
PAST PRESIDENTS OF NORTH CAROLINA OPERA BOARD OF DIRECTORS James Romano: 2010-2012 Stephen Prystowsky: 2012-2014 C. Thomas Kunz: 2014-2018 William Rustin: 2018-2019 James Gulick: 2019-2021 Ralph Roberson: 2021-2023 NORTH CAROLINA OPERA | 1
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (The Barber of Seville) Composer: Giaochino Rossini Librettist: Cesare Sterbini, after the play Le barbier de Séville by Beaumarchais
World premiere: Rome, Teatro Argentina, February 20, 1816 United States premiere: New York, Park Theater, May 3, 1819 This production of The Barber of Seville is generously underwritten by C. Thomas Kunz and Rosemarie Sweeney.
Director: Francesca Zambello Conductor: Jakob Lehmann Rosina Count Almaviva Figaro Dr. Bartolo Don Basilio Berta Fiorello An officer Figaro’s assistant
Lisa Marie Rogali David Walton Luke Sutliff Ben Brady Musa Ngqungwana Lucia Bradford Adam Dengler Donald Hartmann Asher Saab
M
North Carolina Opera is funded in part by the City of Raleigh, based on recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission. This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. 2 | NORTH CAROLINA OPERA
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 | 7:30 PM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2024 | 2:00 PM RALEIGH MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM MARTIN MARIETTA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Lighting Designer Associate Director Chorus Master Wig and Makeup Designer Costume Coordinator Properties Master Master Electrician Wardrobe Wardrobe Assistant Assistant Lighting Designer Wig and Makeup Assistant Rehearsal pianists Production Stage Manager Assistant Stage Managers Production Manager Supertitle Operator
Robert Wierzel Joshua Horowitz Scott MacLeod Martha Ruskai Denise Schumaker Pamela McLamb Taylor Jeffries Christine Lawless, Anny Thompson Jordan Parsons Charlie Raschke Tiffany Bolick Turley Kseniia Polstiankina, Kent Lyman Cynthia Hennon Marino Rickelle Williams, Nathan Hamilton Linda T. Carlson Devon Carter
Scenery designed by John Conklin The scenery was originally created for Glimmerglass Festival Costumes designed by Lynly Saunders The costumes were originally created for Glimmerglass Festival Projected title design by Kelley Rourke originally for The Glimmerglass Festival. Francesca Zambello’s participation is underwritten by Amy Moss and Bill Brown. The performance will last approximately two hours and forty-five minutes, including one intermission. NORTH CAROLINA OPERA | 3
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WELCOME TO THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Figaro here, Figaro there! We are delighted to welcome you to the best of all operatic comedies, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. After seeing and hearing the tragedy of La Traviata this past fall, it makes us smile to return to our friend Figaro. In the whole operatic repertoire, there’s nothing like the sparkle of Rossini’s music and the wit of the Beaumarchais-based libretto. We have assembled a wonderful team to share this work with you. Francesca Zambello, Artistic Director of Washington National Opera, brings us her celebrated production of this masterpiece. Jakob Lehmann, a rising young conducting star and Rossini specialist, makes his North Carolina debut with these performances. They lead an exceptional young cast, including both debuting artists and artists returning to North Carolina Opera. There is plenty more to come this year after Rossini. Our Gala will take place on April 6th at the Pavilion at the Angus Barn. We hope you can join us for this annual celebration of opera, which is our most important fundraiser of the year. Our current season will conclude on April 21st with the company premiere of Puccini’s Gold Rush opera, The Girl of the Golden West, presented in staged concert format with Marina Costa-Jackson (last season’s splendid Manon Lescaut) in the title role, and returning favorite Keitaro Harada conducting. Tickets for this are going fast! We are grateful for the opportunity to share opera with you; it is the most wonderful of all art forms. With the singers, designers, director, conductor, and all of the many people whose efforts bring opera to us, it’s also the most expensive. We hope you’ll consider making a contribution to North Carolina Opera to help keep everyone singing! Thank you.
Nancy Hablutzel Board President
Eric Mitchko General Director
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A REVOLUTIONARY PLAYWRIGHT Watchmaker, harp teacher, playwright, spy – Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais was something of a general factotum himself. Today operagoers know him as the man who gave us Figaro (and friends) in a trilogy of plays. Le Barbier de Séville (“The Barber of Seville”), the first, is a light-hearted comedy in which two young people, inspired by love, conspire against those who would prevent them from being together. In the second, La Folle Journée, ou Le Mariage de Figaro (“The Crazy Day, or The Marriage of Figaro”), the high-spirited conspirators of Barber have lost their common cause – and are in danger of losing their youthful affection and regard for one another. The second play in Beaumarchais’ “Figaro Trilogy” has more of a political edge, which is even more pronounced in the work that follows: L’Autre Tartuffe, ou La Mère Coupable (“The Other Tartuffe, or The Guilty Mother”). 1732 1751
1753
1756 1757 1759 1761 1762 1767 1773 1774 1775
1776
Pierre-Augustin Caron is born in Paris. The first volumes of the Encyclopédie, edited by Denis Diderot, are produced in France; its stated aim is to “change the way people think.” Caron invents a new escapement for watches; the following year he is commissioned by Louis XV to create a watch mounted on a ring for Madame de Pompadour. Mozart is born. Caron takes the name Beaumarchais from property belonging to his wife. Beaumarchais becomes music teacher to the daughters of Louis XV. Voltaire writes Candide. Beaumarchais buys a royal title. Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, the first of his “reform” operas, premieres in Vienna; the Paris premiere will follow twelve years later. Beaumarchais’ first dramatic play, Eugénie, premieres at the Comédie Francaise. American colonists destroy a shipment of tea from the British East India Company in the Boston Harbor. Beaumarchais works as a secret agent in London. The Barber of Seville premieres as a five-act play and is not well received; the four-act version that follows is a success. The American War of Independence begins. Beaumarchais is entrusted by the government to send aid to the American rebels against the English. Volume I of Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is published.
1778 Voltaire dies. 1779 Beaumarchais purchases rights to publish the complete works of Voltaire, putting out 70 volumes between 1783-1790. 1782 Paisiello and Petrosello’s opera based on The Barber of Seville premieres in St. Petersburg. 1784 The first performance of The Marriage of Figaro (play) is given at the Comedie Francaise; with the proceeds, Beaumarchais creates an institution for poor nursing mothers. 1786 Mozart and Da Ponte produce an opera based on The Marriage of Figaro. 1787 Beaumarchais and Salieri’s opera Tarare premieres in Paris. 1789 In Paris, revolutionaries storm the Bastille. 1791 Mozart dies. 1792 A Mother’s Guilt premieres at the Théâtre du Marais; the titles “Count” and “Countess” are suppressed for the Almavivas. Beaumarchais is entrusted with the purchase and transfer of 60,000 muskets stored in Holland, but arms suppliers have him arrested and imprisoned. Once he is freed, he flees to London, where he is jailed for debt. Rossini is born. 1793 Louis XVI is executed and the Reign of Terror begins. 1799 Beaumarchais dies and is buried in the garden of his home. 1816 Rossini’s Almaviva premieres; later that year, after Paisiello dies, it is retitled The Barber of Seville. 1822 The remains of Beaumarchais are transferred to Père Lachaise cemetery.
To appear always deeply concerned for the good of the State, yet to be concerned with nothing but selfinterest; to assemble and say nothing; to pretend vast secrecy where there is nothing to conceal; to shut yourself up in your quarters, and mend your pen or pick your teeth while your servants inform the waiting crowd you are too busy to be approached – this, with the art of intercepting letters and excusing the poverty of means by the importance of the ends – this is the whole mystery of politics, or I am an idiot. BEAUMARCHAIS
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SYNOPSIS Rosina, the ward of Dr. Bartolo, has attracted the attention of Count Almaviva. Disguised as a poor student, “Lindoro,” the Count professes his love. Bartolo, eager to keep Rosina for himself, attempts to keep the would-be lovers apart with the help of Basilio, Rosina’s scheming music teacher. However, they are no match for Figaro, a jack-of-all-trades who is employed by the Count to help his cause. On Figaro’s suggestion, Almaviva gains admission to Bartolo’s house by disguising himself as a soldier. The Count produces a billeting order, insulting the Doctor and flirting with Rosina all the while. As Bartolo’s fury grows, the household is thrown into noisy chaos. The police arrive and arrest the “soldier,” but after a brief exchange, they release him. Bartolo is amazed. When Almaviva returns, he is disguised as a music teacher, “Don Alonso.” He tells Bartolo that Basilio is sick in bed. To gain the Doctor’s trust, he produces Rosina’s letter, “obtained by accident,” and explains how it could be used to discredit Rosina’s secret lover. Impressed, Bartolo allows “Alonso” to give Rosina a music lesson. Basilio appears, in perfect health, and the scene erupts in confusion. After Basilio is dispatched, Figaro arrives; as he gives Bartolo a shave, Almaviva tells Rosina to prepare to escape with him at midnight. Alone with Rosina, the Doctor informs her that her secret lover plans to sell her to Count Almaviva. Aghast, she confesses that she had planned to elope with “Lindoro” that very evening and agrees to marry Bartolo out of spite. Later, when the Count and Figaro arrive, Rosina angrily confronts them before learning that her earnest suitor is the Count himself. As the lovers prepare to escape, they find that the ladder has been removed. Amidst the confusion, Basilio arrives with a notary; encouraged by a bribe from the Count, he is pressed into witnessing the marriage of Rosina and the Count, just before Bartolo arrives and acknowledges defeat. – Courtesy of Kelley Rourke/The Glimmerglass Festival
NORTH CAROLINA OPERA | 7
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MOZART Sat, Feb 17 | 7:30PM Sun, Feb 18 | 3PM
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UNITED ARTS PARTNERS WITH TOWNS & ARTS NON-PROFITS
TO MAKE ART HAPPEN ACROSS WAKE COUNTY Learn how United Arts creates a community where the arts and culture are available and accessible to everyone in Wake County. Scan the code or visit: www.unitedarts.org @UnitedArtsWake Photos by Chris Janaro (l-r) El Pueblo, CAM, NC Museum of History, Town of Zebulon, African American Cultural Festival, Justice Theater Project, IBMA, Hum Sub, WCPSS Pieces of Gold
NORTH CAROLINA OPERA SUPPORTERS North Carolina Opera extends its deepest gratitude to the following generous individuals who have contributed to making this season possible. This list represents gifts to NCO received between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024. INDIVIDUAL GIVING Betsy and Steven Levitas Candyce Marsh Rosemarie Sweeney and C. Thomas Kunz Dr. Bill and Dr. Margaret McCulloch Robert W. Morrison Ross W. Lampe Jr. Linda and Wendell Murphy Susan Osborne and Stephen Reynolds UNDERWRITER Tom Roberg Gifts between $15,000 and $24,999 Stephen W. Teitsworth Rae and James Gulick Nancy and Philip Hablutzel BENEFACTOR Francine and Ralph Roberson GOLD PATRON
Gifts between $50,000 and $74,999
GRAND SPONSOR
Gifts between $10,000 and $14,999 Jacobi Daley E.T. Franklin Jr. Mia Kang and Tony Acquaviva Amy Moss and Bill Brown Anna and James Romano SPONSOR
Gifts between $5,000 and $9,999 Jane and Francis Acquaviva Joel R. Adams Chip Anderson Amanda and Michael Bambrick Danielle and Andrew Blass Kelvin Currie and Sandra Cook Ruth and G. Sidney Cox Roy Cromartie and Paul Fomberg Donna and Richard Falvo William L. Hampton Judith LeGrand Elizabeth and John Lunsford Chancy and Keith Kapp Vicky Kruckeberg and Carl R. Nold Susan and Dale Oller Aurora K. Pajeau, MD, MPH Florence and James Peacock Kelley Russell Mary Louise and William Rustin Lois T. Flaherty and Richard Sarles Cathy and Jim Stuart Shohreh Taavoni and Alan Kronhaus Holly and Paul Tesar Brigette Wilds and Michael C. Byrne John Williamson Jeanie Wozencraft-Ornellas PATRON Gifts between $2,500 and $4,999 Anonymous Heather Brown Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Byrne Mary-Owens Fitzgerald Vivian Clark and Bryan Gilliam Peter Hamilton Kim Kotlar and James Hargrove Karen and Clark Havighurst Douglas R. Holbrook
Gifts between $1,000 and $2,499
Eva and Ruth Buck David Casteel Laura Collatz Anne Prince Cuddy S. Worth Dunn, III Connie and Bob Eby Sallie and Joe Exum Alison and Ken Faulkner Sofie Franzen-Moyle Linda and Rob Grew William F. Hamlin Jr. Susan Moore and Doug Hammer Lisa and Don Hirsh Phyllis Pomerantz and Charles Hochman Valerie Johnson and Linda Edwards Sally and William Johnson Lauren Kennedy-Brady and Charlie Brady Martha and Peter Klopfer Myra Kornbluth Ekaterina Korobkina and Robert Golub Andy Lawrence Larry Lisle Ruth and James McVea Ruth Mokeba-Ekangaki and Abie Ekangaki Eliza Kraft Olander Linda and Orage Quarles Raleigh Fine Arts Society Sarah and Terry Reeves Frances Rollins Harry Rosenberg DD Donates Kay Schoellhorn Sarah and Claude Snow Sally and Robert Tiller Susan and Dick Timmons Ann and Steve Tyler Josephine Walker Erna and Bill Womble Rosemary and Smedes York SUSTAINER
Gifts between $500 and $999 B. Jasmine Adams Judith and Jack Adler Landy and Kelly Anderton Anonymous Susan and David Baker
Wendy Lapish and John Beck Sharon and Byron Braswell Stanford Brown Joel Buccellato Donna and Timothy Burke Mary Lovelock and W. R. Chapman Simmie Kastner and Jerome Davis Cheryl and John Denardo Martha Dimes Georgia and Alec Donaldson Frank Dworsky Kellie Falk and Joe Patterson Douglas Flint Jane and Frank Gray James Gray Margo Lynn Hablutzel George E. Hall, Jr. Dotty and Lee Hanson Susan and Carl Hibbert Caroline and Justin Howe Eloise Watson and Mark Jalkut The Juliette Club Joseph Kahn Mary and Rick Kane Deborah and Thomas Keefe Suzanne Kennedy-Stoskopf Moyra and Brian Kileff Joy Lewis Dorothy Lichtwardt Anne and Mike Liptzin Jo Ann Lutz and Lawrence Muhlbaier Jane Lynch Susanna Martin Carol and Rusty Parks Tricia and Stuart Phoenix Janet and James Rapp John Sarratt Valerie Hillings and William Scheessele Rachel Starr Fran and Jack Steele Emmett E. Stobbs, Jr. Sally Thomas Catalina and Eric Vander Elst Diane and Floyd Whitney Nelson Williams Carole and Brad Wilson SUPPORTER
Gifts between $250 and $499
Gifts between $250 and $499 Carmelle Alipio and Tony Downs Eugenie Almeida Agnes F. Marshall and Robert M. Auman Paul Berry Sarah Beth Briggs Dawn and David Burtt The Honorable Ann Marie Calabria and Robert Calabria Julia and Michael Carpenter Nancy and Tom Carstens NORTH CAROLINA OPERA | 11
NORTH CAROLINA OPERA SUPPORTERS Denise Cline Deborah and Andrew Dalgliesh Mary and George Deaton Catherine Anderton and José Delgado Georgia and Alec Donaldson Ann and Glenn Dunn Gayle Eisner Saskia Ziolkowski and Martin Eisner Ann Erickson Syntheia Finklepott Kristine Forney and William Prizer Penelope Gallins Kimberly Gooden Ruth Gross and Hans Kellner Jim Konold and Tim Hackett Leslie Harris Emmett and Hubert B. Haywood III Deborah Huff Carol and Rick Johns Melissa and Robert Johnson Rachel Kaplan and Jeremy Pienik Martha N. Keravuori and Chuck Gale Lou and Donald Kline Timothy A. Kuhn Kathy and Tom Lada Ross Lampe, Sr. Annie Lang Leigh and William Kempf Amy and David Marschall Patty Matthews Christina and Thomas Mitchko Allison Northcutt Carolyn and Peter Olejar Jake Parrott Rochelle and Stephen Prystowsky Melanie Rankin Marjorie Satinsky Nerre Shuriah State Employees Combined Campaign Marilyn and Hugh Stevens Dell and Blake Strayhorn Julie Kelly-Stump and Mark Stump Yvonne Terry Roberta Titchener Robert Wiley III Katherine and James Wilson Ginny Zehr MEMBER
Gifts up to $249
Virginia Adams & Martin Salzman Robin and Dwight Allen Ms. Lydia Alleyne Pearla and Gregg Alston Trish Anderton Anonymous Elizabeth and Thomas Archie Richard Arnold Susi Lieff and Arthur Axelbank Henry Baker Cortney and Scott Baker Brenda Behr Barbara and Robert Bell Helen Koo and Richard Bilsborrow Peter Bleckner
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Natalie and Gary Boorman Hermis and Roy Boston Anne Margaret and Richard Braham Anna Bess Brown and Eric Hale Louise and Charles Bryan Linda and Philip Carl Dolores and Burton Carnegie Nina Christman David Clegg Rosalind Coleman and James Rolleston Ellen Collins-Boyce Susan Colman Rena and Philippe Courtay Sandra Craig Tammy and Bill Crook Judith Bruno and Michael Cyzewski Lester Czukor Craig S Danforth Yvonne DeWald Genevieve Domalain Lori Drum Amy Edge Pat and Paul Elstro Jane and Jim Ericksen Ms. Jennifer Errande The Fab Foo Richard Felder Sally Fessler Phyllis and Stephen Gordon Angela Grant Lynne Grant John Graybeal Martha and David Green Jami Grossfield Eva and Sheldon Hamburger Robin Hammond Rich Haney Jane Hawk Elizabeth Hely and Bruce Simon Sharon Henderson Michael Hendricks Judy and Richard Hendrickson Scott B Hill Greg Hirsh Linda Whitney Hobson Eleanor Ninestein and V. Dwight House Barbara Houze Martha Hsu Matthew Huffman Sara Oswald and Eric Hyman Kirstin Joshi Lewis H. Kairys Gail and Eugene Karcher Joan and Howard Kastel Devon Kearney Lubomyra Sawczyn and Tadeusz Kleindienst Kathleen Klesh Peggy and Chuck Korte Michael Kris Lewis Lampiris Kathryn Langenkamp and Peter Peroutka Judith Larson and Henry Dozier Brigitte Abrams and Francis Lethem Margaret Link
Maria and Josmar Lopes Jodee Nimerichter and Gaspard Louis Deb Ludwikowski Erin Lunsford and Sean Norton Rosemary Lunsford Connie Margolin James Marrow Margaret Maytan Susan and Earl McClanahan Judith McDaniel Emily McNair Patricia McWaters Virginia Middleton Larry Mintz Loretta Mitchell Maureen and Robert Murray Eloise and Alan Neebe Mary Ann and Alistair Nevius Carolyn Nickols Jane Norris Phyllis and Paul Page JoAnn and Donald Parkerson Mary Jo Parks Hayley Pogue Linda Pukenas Deborah Ravin Jane and Thomas A. Rooker Susan Royster Susan Russell Stephen Schaeffer Pat and Paul Scheible Sue Scott Margaret and Matt Segal Lucia and John Sehon Jill Shires and John Aiken Susannah and Ralph Smith Georgiana and Stephen Snyderman Rudy Spruill Donald Stoll Linda Stone Perry and William Suk Robert Sullivan Marguerite Summers Susan Swartz David Taylor Earleen Thomas Irina Tikhan Joe Tooley Pamela Trent Kristina Troost Matt Tyson Robert W. Upchurch Derek Via Lizbeth and Jean-Marie Videau Hank Wall Cathy and Jim Ward Mary Warlick Alice Watkins Margaret Weir Sally and Ron Wenda Kate Dixon and Daniel Wilkinson Julie and George Williams Marti and Dan Wilson Elaine P. Wood Mary and Peter Zimmerman
SEASON SPONSORS
IS A PROUD PARTNER OF
Thank you for enhancing our lives with the gift of music. At Curtis Media, we applaud your artistry and your talent as well as the many ways that you enrich North Carolina’s cultural fabric. NORTH CAROLINA OPERA | 13
NORTH CAROLINA OPERA SUPPORTERS The following is a list of gifts to North Carolina Opera in honor or in memory of beloved individuals. This list represents gifts to NCO received between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024.
HONORARY GIFTS
In Honor of Jane and Fran Acquaviva Rachel Starr
In Honor of Amy Moss Judith and Jack Adler
In Honor of Bill Carroll Joel R. Adams
In Honor of Susan Oller’s Board Service Rosemarie Sweeney and C. Thomas Kunz
In Honor of Tommy & Jane Franklin Sallie and Joe Exum
In Honor of Florence Peacock Robert W. Upchurch
In Honor of Nancy & Phil Hablutzel Margo Lynn Hablutzel
In Honor of Steve Shaber’s Board Service Rosemarie Sweeney and C. Thomas Kunz
In Honor of Bill Hampton’s Board Service Rosemarie Sweeney and C. Thomas Kunz
In Honor of Sarah & Claude Snow William F. Hamlin Jr.
In Honor of Clark Havighurst’s 90th Birthday Anne and Mike Liptzin
In Honor of Brigette M. Wilds Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Byrne, Sr.
In Honor of Clark and Karen Havighurst Virginia Middleton
In Honor of Brigette Wilds and her support for tickets for underrepresented individuals Advance Automotive Foundation
In Honor of Eric Mitchko Lester Czukor Melanie Rankin
In Honor of Julie Williams Rosemarie Sweeney and C. Thomas Kunz
MEMORIAL GIFTS
In Memory of Ruth A. Benton Anonymous
In Memory of Ruth and Thomas Martin Susanna Martin
In Memory of Ruth Cannon Loretta Mitchell
In Memory of Frances Poyner Marilyn and Hugh Stevens
In Memory of Joseph Grossfield Jami Grossfield
In Memory of June Roberg Rosemarie Sweeney and C. Thomas Kunz Robert W. Morrison
In Loving Memory of Dana Ann Hall George E. Hall, Jr. In Memory of Donald Hunter Sandra Craig Lewis Lampiris In Memory of Ronald Kirschbaum Craig S. Danforth In Memory of Charles M. Kunz William L. Hampton Rosemarie Sweeney and C. Thomas Kunz Francine and Ralph Roberson Croasdaile Garden Club Triangle Wagner Society
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In Memory of John Russell Denise Cline Betsy and Steven Levitas Emily McNair In Memory of Susan Stoker Anonymous In Memory of Don Wilder, Former Music Director of the National Opera Company Judith Bruno and Michael Cyzewski
MULTI-YEAR GIVING Long-range planning is critical to North Carolina Opera’s continued success and growth as we strive to bring worldclass opera productions, performances, and musicians to the Triangle. An essential component of this planning is accurately forecasting contributed revenues from our generous donors — contributed revenues that comprise some 70% of NCO’s budget! North Carolina Opera is profoundly grateful to the following individuals who have pledged their financial support to the organization over multiple future seasons. Please join us in thanking these tremendous donors for their commitment to our current and future success. DIRECTORS CIRCLE
Individuals having made multi-year pledges totaling $250,000 or more Rosemarie Sweeney and C. Thomas Kunz Individuals having made multi-year pledges totaling $150,000 or more Ross W. Lampe, Jr. Individuals having made multi-year pledges totaling $30,000 or more Francine and Ralph Roberson Individuals having made multi-year pledges totaling $15,000 or more Joel R. Adams Danielle and Andrew Blass Amanda and Michael Bambrick Nancy and Phil Hablutzel John and Beth Lunsford Vicky Kruckeberg and Carl R. Nold Lois T. Flaherty and Richard Sarles Shohreh Taavoni, MD and Alan Kronhaus, MD Brigette Wilds and Michael C. Byrne Jeanie Wozencraft-Ornellas LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
Individuals having made multi-year pledges totaling $7,500 or more Francis and Jane Acquaviva Roy Cromartie and Paul Fomberg Douglas R. Holbrook Candyce Marsh Dr. Bill and Dr. Margaret McCulloch Individuals having made multi-year pledges to North Carolina Opera Dr. B. Jasmine Adams James Hargrove and Kim Kotlar Melissa and Bob Johnson Robert Wiley
For information on becoming at part of the Directors Circle or Leadership Circle, please contact the NC Opera office of Development at 919.792.3855 or Cary Byrd at cary.byrd@ncopera.org. NORTH CAROLINA OPERA | 15
FOCUS ON PHILANTHROPY Family Giving Glenn Kurlander, Managing Director Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Philanthropy is often a family affair. It can act as a uniting practice across generations and a valuable tool for teaching children lessons about family values and leaving a legacy. Volunteering Together Making time to volunteer together can help demonstrate the importance of living your values. This hands-on approach can help your children feel more connected to a cause by experiencing the impact of their work first hand. Many nonprofit organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and Feeding America, offer opportunities for families to spend quality time together volunteering. Creating a Family Mission Statement Creating a philanthropic mission statement as a family can help ensure that your collective giving is guided by a consistent set of values, whether you choose to give through a family foundation, a donor-advised fund or another vehicle. The
process of developing a mission statement can also be a great way to give younger family members a voice at the table. As you go through this exercise, try and focus on your family’s common values and goals. Keep in mind that your giving strategy may need to be flexible enough to adapt to changing priorities as your children grow up. PRO TIP If you want to get the message across, you have to live, not just speak, your values. If we emphasize to our children how important it is to give back, but never engage in philanthropic activity, our children will come to doubt our words no matter how often or eloquently we deliver the message.
THE NORTH CAROLINA OPERA LEGACY SOCIETY
North Carolina Opera is honored to have been included in the Estate Plans of the following visionaries that are helping to ensure the future of opera in The Triangle. The Joel R. Adams Trust: An Endowment for the Arts Yvonne Bryant Jacobi and Jerry Daley C. Thomas Kunz and Rosemarie Sweeney
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NORTH CAROLINA OPERA SUPPORTERS North Carolina Opera gratefully acknowledges the following community leaders for their generous support in making this season possible. This list represents gifts made to North Carolina Opera between June 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023. CORPORATIONS
UNDERWRITER Gifts between $25,000 and $49,999 INSERV CO-SPONSOR Gifts between $5,000 and $9,999 Baird* Morningstar Law Group*
SUPPORTER Gifts between $2,500 and $4,999 Elliott Davis, LLC Galloway Ridge* Ruggero Piano
FRIEND Gifts up to $2,500 Opera America, Inc. York Properties*
*Denotes sponsors of the 2023 North Carolina Opera Gala
FOUNDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT
GRAND UNDERWRITER Gifts of $100,000 or more The City of Raleigh UNDERWRITER Gifts between $25,000 and $49,999 North Carolina Arts Council North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources The John William Pope Foundation
CO-SPONSOR Gifts between $5,000 and $9,999 The Freedom Forum, Inc. National Endowment for the Arts The George Smedes Poyner Foundation (multi-year pledge) Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation Triangle Community Foundation’s Carver Fund for North Carolina Opera United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County FRIEND Gifts up to $2,499 Advance Auto Parts Foundation Ella Ann and Frank B. Holding Foundation NC State Employees Combined Campaign
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
North Carolina Opera would like to thank Carolina Ballet Carmen Buckner David Casteel Ruth Cox
Paul Fomberg Rae Gulick Audrey Hubbard Abby Jones
Meredith College Department of Music Shaw University Triangle Youth Music Jeanie Wozencraft-Ornellas
CHARTER SUBSCRIBERS
Jane and Francis Acquaviva Dr. Yvonne Bryant Anne Prince Cuddy Martha Dimes John Williamson James Gray Karen and Clark Havighurst Mark Hogan
Ekaterina Korobkina and Robert Golub Kathy and Tom Lada Ross Lampe, Sr. Dr. Bill and Dr. Margaret McCulloch Christina and Thomas Mitchko Robert W. Morrison Linda and Wendell Murphy JoAnn and Donald Parkerson
Florence and James Peacock Francine and Ralph Roberson Mary Louise and William Rustin Sally and Robert Tiller Allison Tolksdorf Lizbeth and Jean-Marie Videau Brigette Wilds and Michael C. Byrne Ellen Williams NORTH CAROLINA OPERA | 17
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO DIRECTOR Francesca Zambello is the Artistic Director of the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center and General Director, Emerita of the Glimmerglass Festival. She is an internationally recognized director of opera and theater, and her work has been seen at the Metropolitan Opera, la Scala, Bolshoi, Covent Garden, Munich Staatsoper, Paris Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and English National Opera. She has staged plays and musicals on Broadway, Royal National Theatre, BAM, Guthrie Theater, Vienna’s Raimund Theater, Bregenz Festival, Sydney Festival, and Disneyland. She received the San Francisco Opera Medal for Artistic Excellence for 30 years of artistic contributions to the company. In 2020, she received the Knighthood of the Order of the Star of Italy for her contribution to Italian culture. She was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from the French government, and the Russian Federation’s medal for Service to Culture. Her theatrical honors include Olivier Awards, Evening Standard Awards, French Grand Prix des Critiques, Helpmann Award, Green Room Award, and the Golden Mask in Russia. She began her career as the Artistic Director of the Skylight Opera Theatre and as an assistant director to the late Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. An American who grew up in Europe, she speaks French, Italian, German and Russian. She is a graduate of Colgate University where she has also received an Honorary Doctorate. JAKOB LEHMANN CONDUCTOR Jakob Lehmann is a conductor for whom stylistic awareness and historically informed performance are the pillars of emotionally sincere and energetic interpretations. His dual aims of fidelity to the composer’s intentions with their direct conveyance to his modern audiences guide his diverse musical activities. He regards as one of his main objectives the collaborative convergence of historically informed performance styles with more traditional approaches. Jakob Lehmann works both with orchestras such as Wiener Symphoniker, Tonkünstler Orchester, Bochumer Symphoniker, Brandenburger Symphoniker, and Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Lorraine, as well as period instrument groups such as Concerto Köln,
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Orchestra of the 18th Century, {OH!}-Orkiestra Historyczna, La Banda Storica Bern, and the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. He enjoys collaborations with instrumental soloists such as Yulianna Avdeeva, Pierre Génisson, Niklas Liepe, Sergey Malov, Aaron Pilsan, Lucienne Rénaudin-Vary, Shunske Sato, Dmitry Shiskin and Chouchane Siranossian and singers like Lioba Braun, Karine Deshayes, Mojca Erdmann, Véronique Gens, Rachel Harnisch, Malin Hartelius, Daniel Johannsen, Siobhan Stagg und Manuel Walser. He is the Artistic Director of Eroica Berlin, a chamber orchestra he founded in 2015 and which performed at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie for the first time in 2020. The group consists of young musicians from Berlin and focuses on translating the impulses and inspirations from period performance to modern instruments. The music of Gioachino Rossini and the Belcanto period is a field in which Jakob Lehmann is particularly active, both as a performer as well as in his research. His contract as Associate Artistic Director of New York based Belcanto festival Teatro Nuovo, first signed in 2019, has been recently renewed until 2025. His conducting of Rossini’s music has been described by the press as “a revelation,” “extraordinary,” and “one of the most moving Rossini performances that New York has experienced in recent times.” As a presenter, lecturer, and coach for the topics of Romantic performance practice and the Belcanto style, he is working with institutions such as The Juilliard School New York, the Hochschule der Künste Bern, and the Conservatorio Guido Cantelli in Novara. In 2023, he was elected as the President of the German Rossini Society and further is a member of the American Rossini Society. In addition to further projects with Eroica Berlin, Concerto Köln, La Banda Storica Bern and the Orchestra of the 18th Century, Jakob Lehmann is working with Beethoven Orchester Bonn for the first time in the 2023-2024 season. As an opera conductor, he conducts Mozart’s Idomeneo at the Opéra National de Lorraine in a production by Lorenzo Ponte as well as Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia in a production by Francesca Zambello. The season ends in summer 2024 with a new production of Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Teatro Nuovo.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES LUKE SUTLIFF FIGARO Baritone Luke Sutliff, the 2023 second prize winner of Operalia, is a recent alumnus of the Houston Grand Opera Studio and is quickly starting to make his mark in the opera world. Having premiered the title-role in Nico Muhly version of Monteverdi’s Orfeo at the Santa Fe Opera, he makes a series of exciting company and/or role debuts this season: Silvio in I Pagliacci with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with North Carolina Opera and the Seattle Opera, Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Atlanta Opera. In the summer Mr. Sutliff will reprise Belcore in L’elisir d’amore at the Santa Fe Opera. In concert he debuts in Tokyo with the NHK Symphony Orchestra and Fabio Luisi as the baritone solo in Mahler’s Symphony No. 8. Future projects include a return to his home company, the Houston Grand Opera, in a leading role. Last season at HGO, Sutliff sang the roles of Harvey in Dame Ethel Smyth’s The Wreckers, Brühlmann in Werther, Sciarrone in Tosca, and A Cappadocian in Salome. He made his house debut as El Dancaïro in Rob Ashford’s production of Carmen and later performed Thierry and M. Javelinot in Dialogues of the Carmelites and Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette. In concert he performed Fauré’s Requiem at A&M Methodist Church. DAVID WALTON COUNT ALMAVIVA Praised for his “clean, clear voice,” David Walton dazzles stages across the country to critical acclaim as a versatile lyric tenor to watch. He recently sang Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance with “charismatic presence and a sweet pleasing tenor” (Cincinnati Business Courier) and Ferrando in Così fan tutte with “an elegant beautifully sung ‘Un aura amorosa’” (Broad Street Review). Performances for the current season include Ramiro in La Cenerentola with Toledo Opera, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with Annapolis Opera, Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with North Carolina Opera, Filippo in Haydn’s L’infedeltá delusa with Sarasota Opera, Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance with Opera San Antonio, and the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Boise Philharmonic and Mozart’s Mass in C minor with the Columbus Symphony. As a favorite tenor of bel canto, Mr. Walton has frequented such roles as Ernesto in Donizetti’s Don
Pasquale, Tonio in La fille du régiment, and Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola. He has been described as “this production’s breakthrough performance” (Pioneer Press) and “the sweetest singing of the evening...a lyric tenor with strong Italianate stylings” (Star Tribune), “a 21st century Rossini tenor” (Opera War Horses), and “smooth, lyrical, and capable of scaling the heights” (Virginia Pilot). Company appearances include Cincinnati Opera, Kentucky Opera, Virginia Opera, Minnesota Opera, and the Glimmerglass Festival in a new production by Francesca Zambello where Opera News labeled him “genuinely funny.” Other operas include Rossini’s L’occasione fa il ladro and La scala di seta, Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and Handel’s Acis and Galatea. BEN BRADY DR. BARTOLO American Bass-Baritone Ben Brady was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan. Mr. Brady was a participant in San Francisco Opera’s Merola Young Artist Program in the summers of 2020 and 2021. In 2022 Mr. Brady completed his first year as Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artist and in 2023 Ben returned to Santa Fe Opera as a second-year Apprentice where he sang Sciarrone in Tosca, the physician in Pelléas et Mélisande and one performance of Arkel in Pelléas et Mélisande. Other operatic roles include Fafner (Das Rheingold) with Dayton Opera, The King in Alma Deutcher’s Cinderella with Opera San Jose, Colline (La Boheme) with Opera Modesto, Banco (Macbetto), Zaccaria (Nabucco) and Rocco (Fidelio) with West Bay Opera, the Sprecher (The Magic Flute) with Eugene Opera, Dr. Dulcamara (L’elisir d’amore) with Cal Baptist University and the Page in San Francisco Opera’s Roberto Devereux. In 2018 he was awarded Audience Favorite and First Place in the Tier II category of the James Toland Vocal Arts competition, and in 2021 he was awarded the Oakland Symphony Award in the Tier I category. In 2020 Mr. Brady was selected for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Semifinals in New York, and in 2022 he was awarded 2nd Place and Audience Favorite in the Northwest Regionals. in 2021 he took first place in the CS Music Online Competition in the Emerging Professional division. In May of 2022 he sang as a finalist in the Irene Dalis Vocal Competition with Opera San Jose.
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ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES MUSA NGQUNGWANA DON BASILIO The “powerful bass-baritone” (Wall Street Journal) Musa Ngqungwana, a native of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, has been lauded by The New York Times for his “rich, glowing voice and elegant legato,” while the The Arts Desk describes him as having “striking stage presence and a dignity that never falters”. He made his North Carolina Opera debut as the Wanderer in Siegfried. This season, the “standout performer” (The Times) returns to the Royal Danish Opera for Verdi’s Aida, portraying King Amonasro, after making his house debut last season. Musa also sings Don Bartolo in Rossini’s comedic masterpiece, The Barber of Seville, first at Pittsburgh Opera. In concert, he appears with the New World Symphony in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Musa was the 2013 Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He graduated from the University of Cape Town with Honors in Performance (First Class) and Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. His memoir, Odyssey of an African Opera Singer, was published by Penguin Random House. musangqungwana.com. LISA MARIE ROGALI ROSINA Award-winning mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali has been praised for her “nuanced voice” and “spontaneity” on the stage, quickly establishing herself as a versatile performer in opera, musical theater, contemporary, and concert music. During the 2022–23 season, she debuted the roles of Princess/Lucy/Fancy Doll in Minnesota Opera’s world premiere of Paola Prestini’s Edward Tulane and performed her first Hansel in Opera Birmingham’s production of Hansel and Gretel. This summer, she returned to The Glimmerglass Festival to sing Stéphano in Roméo et Juliette and Paquette in Candide. On the concert stage, she was recently featured as a soloist with the Naples Philharmonic, the South Florida Symphony Orchestra, and the Masterwork Chorus. Lisa has performed notable roles on the stages of companies including Detroit Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Opera Saratoga. She has also earned top accolades from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Jensen
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Foundation, Giulio Gari Foundation, Gerda Lissner Foundation, American Traditions Vocal Collection, Lotte Lenya Competition, and many more. Lisa holds an M.M. in Vocal Performance from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and a B.M.E. in Music Education from Penn State University. In Detroit Opera’s 20232024 mainstage season, Lisa will perform the roles of Kate Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and The Dog in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen. She will also sing Der Trommler in Der Kaiser von Atlantis with Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings. LUCIA BRADFORD BERTA Mezzo-soprano, Lucia Bradford is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y. Ms. Bradford has performed a number of operatic roles including Carmen in Bizet’s La Tragedie de Carmen, Zita in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, La Principessa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, The Mother in Ravel’s L’Enfant des Sortileges, Mercedes in Bizet’s Carmen, Mrs. Quickly in Verdi’s Falstaff, The Sorceress in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Gertrude in Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet, Hippolyta in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Miss Todd in Menotti’s Old Maid and the Thief, the Duchess of Plaza Toro in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, Azelia Dessalines in William Grant Still’s opera Troubled Island, Douglas Tappin’s I dream as Grandma, Mary Watkins’ Emmett Till as Mamie Till and Maria in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Her concert works include the St Matthews Passion with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Bach’s Weihnachts oratorium, Vesperae solennes de Confessore, Hadyn’s Lord Nelson Mass, De Falla’s El amor Brujo, William Grant Still’s And They Lynched Him, Nathanial Dett’s The Ordering of Moses, Julia Perry’s Stabat Mater, Beethoven’s Mass in C major, Handel’s Messiah with the National Symphony, the Mozart Requiem, Durufle Requiem, Bach B minor Mass with the Voices of Ascension, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Bach’s Magnificat, at Carnegie Hall with the Oratorio Society of N.Y.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES ADAM DENGLER FIORELLO Adam Dengler, Baritone, is originally from Honolulu, Hawaii but now resides in Durham, North Carolina. His operatic highlights include the title role of Don Giovanni (Mozart) and Ping in Turandot (Puccini). Roles with North Carolina Opera include Second Prisoner in Fidelio (Beethoven) and Villager in Pagliacci (Leoncavallo). He sings regularly with the North Carolina Opera chorus and as a soloist in NCO’s About Town performances and educational programs. In addition to opera, Adam is a soloist for concert works including Dichterliebe (Schumann), Handel’s Messiah and Dixit Dominus, and The Seven Last Words of Christ (Théodore Dubois). Other stage credits include Jean Valjean in Les Misérables (Schönberg). Adam enjoys performing works by local composers including Night Vision (Sue Klausmeyer) and a premier of Roses and Rue (Jacob Groff). Adam is a longtime member and soloist of Voices: The Chapel Hill Chorus including an upcoming performance as the Bass soloist in Fauré’s Requiem. Adam has studied with internationally acclaimed soprano Christine Weidinger. In addition to music, Adam is a research scientist at a biotech company, Redbud Labs, and has a Ph.D. in Biomedical engineering from the Joint Department of UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State. Adam lives in Durham with his wife, Nic, and two sons Kai and Keanu. DONALD HARTMANN AN OFFICER No stranger to North Carolina Opera audiences, having appeared in Tosca, Carmen, Aida, Le Nozze di Figaro, Rusalka, and others, bassbaritone Donald Hartmann, is celebrating 45 years of singing on operas stages nationwide. His professional career began in 1978 with the Stadttheater Regensburg, and later with the Vereinigte Städtiches Bühnen Krefeld/Mönchengladbach in Germany. He has been described as possessing a, “big, rich voice with an amazing timbre” and “… his flair for comedic bel canto is major-league-worthy.” Having performed in over 165 operatic productions, in over 60 operas singing over 70 different roles, in many companies across the US and Canada, he had been described as “one of the best character singers
on any opera stage anywhere. He has enjoyed two very important national debuts: William Jennings Bryan in the 60th anniversary production of Ballad Baby Doe for Central City Opera in Colorado, and the Sacristan in Tosca in the historic reopening of New York City Opera’s return to Lincoln Center in 2016! His 2024 season includes an upcoming production of Le Nozze di Figaro as Dr. Bartolo for Opera Roanoke. ASHER SAAB FIGARO’S ASSISTANT Most recently Asher made his professional debut in Elf with North Carolina Theatre as part of the Youth Ensemble & u/s Michael. Favorite Credits include: Newsies: Jack Kelly (Center Theater Company), The Addam’s Family: Gomez (CTC), Willy Wonka: Charlie Bucket (Neuse Little Theatre), Annie: Featured Ensemble (Camp Broadway/NYC), FLIGHT: “Boy on Plane” (Royal Caribbean Productions). Asher is grateful for the opportunity to be onstage again with the North Carolina Opera. JOSHUA R. HOROWITZ ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Joshua R. Horowitz is a Theatre and Opera Director from Old Bethpage, New York. Past directing credits include the Emerging Artist Performance of Romeo et Juliet (Washington National Opera), La Bohème (Annapolis Opera), The Barber of Seville (Cincinnati Opera), and Arias and Barcarolles (The Glimmerglass Festival). As an associate and assistant director, Joshua’s work has been seen across the country at The Washington National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Seattle Opera, and The Lyric Opera of Kansas City. He is thrilled to be making his debut at North Carolina Opera for this production of The Barber of Seville. You can find out more about Joshua and his work by visiting his website, JoshuaRHorowitz.com
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ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES ROBERT WIERZEL LIGHTING DESIGNER As a lighting designer, Mr. Wierzel has worked with artists from diverse disciplines and backgrounds in theatre, dance, opera and contemporary music, with companies throughout the country and abroad. His theatre work has been seen on and off Broadway, including Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill, starring Audra McDonald; the musical Fela! (Tony Award nomination); Dreams and Nightmares; and productions at the NYSF/Public Theatre; PAC/NYC at the WTC; Roundabout Theatre Company; Signature Theatre Company; Playwrights Horizons; Mostly Mozart Festival; BAM; The Acting Company; and the Lincoln Center Festival/American Songbook Series. He has worked with many opera companies, including the Paris-Garnier; Versailles-Château de Versailles Spectacles; Tokyo; Toronto; Bergen & Kristiansand Norway; Folk Opera, Sweden; Dutch National; Wexford Festival Opera; Washington National; Chicago Lyric; New York City Opera; Glimmerglass Festival; Atlanta; Seattle; Boston Lyric; Minnesota; Philadelphia; San Francisco; Houston; Chicago Opera Theatre; Montreal; Vancouver; Florida Grand; Portland; Colorado; Wolf Trap; San Diego; Virginia and Gotham Chamber Opera. He has collaborated for decades with choreographer and director Bill T. Jones and the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, including recently Watch Night at the PAC/NYC at the World Trade Center. His extensive theatre work includes productions at most of the nation’s premier regional theatre companies. Robert is on the faculty of NYU Tisch School of the Arts and is a Creative Partner at Spark Design Collaborative.
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SCOTT MACLEOD CHORUS MASTER Scott MacLeod has served as chorus master for North Carolina Opera since the 2013 production of Aida. He also maintains an active musical career as a singer. Notable solo performances include Frederik in A Little Night Music with Piedmont Opera, the world premiere of Rime of the Ancient Mariner with Carolina Ballet, three tours of Messiah with the National Symphony of Costa Rica, and a solo recital of original compositions by J. Mark Scearce at the historic Municipal House in Prague. Onstage with North Carolina Opera he performed Hercules in Patrick Morganelli’s Hercules v. Vampires, Marullo in Rigoletto, and Pangle and Monroe in the North Carolina debut of Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain. In 2022 he played Father in Piedmont Opera’s production of Ragtime and was featured in North Carolina Symphony’s Independence Day tour and The Polar Express. He also received a state department grant from the U.S. Consulate in Marseille, France, to perform an ocean conservation-themed recital tour, “Musique pour l’Océan” (“Music for the Ocean”), which culminated in a performance in Monaco for Prince Albert II and invited guests; he will repeat this program at the Washington National Gallery on Earth Day 2023. Scott is Associate Professor of Voice at High Point University, where he received the 2020/2021 “Innovation and Creativity in Teaching” Award. He spent two summers as a guest artist/lecturer in China and was awarded an honorary faculty post at Shaoguan University (Guangdong, China) in 2017.
NORTH CAROLINA OPERA ORCHESTRA 1ST VIOLIN Carol Chung Margaret Partridge Ariadna Ilika Anne Leyland Irina Shelepov Eric McCracken Ashley Kovacs Krista Cala
VIOLA Simon Ertz Matthew Chicurel Kristen Beard Emi Mizobuchi
2ND VIOLIN Emi Hildebrandt Lyda Cruden Sarah Griffin Suzanne Kelly Cortney Baker Robert Rempher
BASS Emily Buccola Cody Rex Rebecca Marland
CELLO Nathan Leyland Brian Carter
FLUTE Carla Copeland-Burns Whitney Pencina
PERCUSSION Krista Siachames Julia Thompson
OBOE Courtney Miller CLARINET Mike Cyzewski Todd Krueger
GUITAR Drew Lile
BASSOON Michael Burns John Fanning
PERSONNEL MANAGER Paul Gorski
FRENCH HORN Christopher Caudill Rachel Niketopoulos
LIBRARIAN Julia Thompson
TRUMPET Alex Fioto John Manning
NORTH CAROLINA OPERA CHORUS Jeff Aldridge Wenzhao Bai Michael Blake Mason Cordell Lawrence Hall
Wade Henderson Greg Hirsh Miles Jenkins Tom Keefe Matthew Lubin
Lindon Pearson John Warrick Ted Willis Ethan Wood
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NORTH CAROLINA OPERA STAFF General Director – Eric Mitchko Director of Development – P. Carrigan Byrd, Jr. Director of Marketing – Angela Grant Company Manager – Julie Williams Production Manager – Linda T. Carlson Box Office Associate – Amanda Reyes Chorus Master – Scott MacLeod Education Coordinator – Rachel Stenbuck Engagement Coordinator – Micaela Bundy
MARTIN MARIETTA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS STAFF City Manager – Marchell Adams-David Assistant City Manager – Evan Raleigh Director/General Manager – Kerry Painter Assistant General Manager – Michelle Bradley Director of Theatre Operations – Christopher Bullock Director of Finance – Laura Knott Director of Security – Byron K Johnson II Director of Operations – Brian Clark Box Office Manager – Robert Leavell Assistant Box Office Manager – Gavin Brown Booking Manager – Melanie Margarum Marketing Manager – Sarah McAlister Events Experience Manager – Brittany Washington Front of House Manager – Matthew Hester Production Manager – Dave McManus Production Supervisors – Andrew Armas, EG Garcia, Brian Moore, Jason Morris Security Supervisor – Shelly Westfall Maintenance and Operations Superintendent – Blade Perdue Facilities Supervisor – William Negron Capital Projects Manager – Suzanne Walker Event Settlement Analyst – Keisha Peacock Operation Staff – Nicole Ackman, Deshondre Bellinger, Alex Brickley, Alex Bryant, Andrew Crane, Scott Gibson, Michael Green, Ehhteeku Htaw, Ulando Jones, Trevor Jordan, Tami Kaufmann, Liberty Lander, Noeree Lander, Matino Lin, Lisa Morgan, Kevin Rosella, Keecia Rouse, Rusty Sharpe, Htee Shee, Mi Than, Mason Tierney, Avery Vanore, Luke Watkins, Renee Wilson, Evan Woodard
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